Sero's sister

Chapter 33: Conflicting Emotions

The next day dawned bright and clear, but Y/N felt a storm brewing within her. After her late-night conversation with the League of Villains, her thoughts were clouded with mixed emotions. She had shared so much with them, and while it had felt cathartic, it also left her with an unsettling sense of confusion.

As she entered the common room for breakfast, the smell of bacon and toast wafted through the air, stirring her appetite. The Bakusquad was already gathered around the table, chatting animatedly. Y/N hesitated at the doorway, her stomach twisting in knots as she caught sight of Bakugou, who was sitting at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.

"Y/N!" Uraraka's voice broke through her thoughts, and she turned to see her friend waving her over. "Come eat with us!"

"Yeah, come on! We saved you a seat!" Mina added, beaming.

Y/N forced a smile and joined them, sliding into a seat beside Uraraka. "Thanks, guys."

Bakugou shot her a quick glance, then returned to his food, his brow furrowed in concentration. The air around him felt charged, and Y/N could sense the tension lingering from their last argument. She glanced at Sero, who caught her eye and gave her an encouraging nod.

"So, Y/N, we were all really worried about you last night," Uraraka said, her tone serious. "You can't just go out alone like that, especially with... you know, them." She nodded toward the window, where the city sprawled outside, the night still fresh in their memories.

"I know, I know," Y/N replied, pushing her food around on her plate. "I didn't mean to worry anyone. I just needed to clear my head."

"Yeah, but with the League of Villains?" Bakugou interrupted, his voice gruff. "What were you thinking? You know they're dangerous."

"Dangerous doesn't mean they're all bad," Y/N shot back, feeling her frustration rising. "They have their own problems, just like everyone else. I thought maybe I could help them."

Bakugou's expression darkened, and Y/N could see the anger bubbling beneath the surface. "You can't save everyone, Y/N! You think you can just fix all their issues? What if they turn on you? What if—"

"I already told you, I can handle myself!" she retorted, her voice rising. "I'm not going to let fear dictate my actions. I have my own experiences that can help others."

"Yeah? And what if they use that against you?" Bakugou shot back, his fists clenched. "What if they see you as a target?"

"Enough!" Sero interjected, sensing the tension escalating. "We're not going to get anywhere if we keep fighting like this. Y/N, it's great that you want to help, but we all care about you. We don't want to see you hurt."

"I appreciate that," Y/N said, her voice softening. "But I can't just ignore the people who need help. It's not in my nature."

"Just promise us you'll be more careful," Uraraka pleaded. "We can't lose you, especially not to them."

"Fine," Y/N sighed, feeling the weight of their concern pressing down on her. "I promise I'll be careful."

As breakfast continued, Y/N struggled to focus on the conversation. The tension hung in the air like a thick fog, and she couldn't shake the feeling of unease settling in her stomach. After they finished eating, Bakugou stood abruptly, pushing his chair back.

"I'm going for a training session," he announced, his voice clipped. Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the common room, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.

"Y/N..." Uraraka started, concern etched on her face.

"I'm fine," Y/N said quickly, forcing a smile. "Really. I just need to process everything that happened last night."

Sero studied her for a moment before speaking. "You know, you can talk to us about anything, right? Even about what happened with the League."

Y/N nodded, appreciating the support from her friends, but she felt a heaviness in her chest that she couldn't quite articulate. "I will. Just... not right now."

After breakfast, Y/N decided to head out for a walk. She needed to clear her mind, and the cool breeze outside felt refreshing against her skin. As she wandered through the campus, she spotted Bakugou training alone, his body moving with a fierce intensity. She paused, watching him as he unleashed his frustrations against the training dummies, explosions bursting forth with each strike.

The sight of him, so focused and powerful, sent a rush of warmth through her chest. But alongside that warmth came a wave of guilt. She knew they needed to talk, but every time she considered approaching him, the fear of reigniting their earlier argument held her back.

"Hey, Bakugou," Y/N called, her voice tentative as she approached.

He stopped mid-strike, turning to face her, and for a moment, the intensity in his eyes softened. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone still gruff.

"I wanted to see how you were doing," she said, fidgeting with her hands. "I know I messed up last night, and I'm sorry for worrying you."

Bakugou's expression was unreadable, and he turned back to the training dummy. "Whatever. Just don't do it again."

Y/N felt her heart sink. "That's it? You're just going to brush it off?"

"What do you want me to say?" he snapped, frustration lacing his voice. "You almost got yourself killed, and now you want me to just pretend it didn't happen?"

"I'm trying to apologize!" she exclaimed, stepping closer. "I thought I could help them. I didn't think they would hurt me. And I'm sorry if I scared you, but I can't just ignore people in pain!"

Bakugou's gaze flicked to hers, a mixture of anger and something softer swirling in his eyes. "You don't have to carry that weight alone. You have us. You can rely on us."

Y/N's heart raced at the intensity of his words, feeling a warmth blooming in her chest. "I know, but—"

"Then stop pushing us away!" Bakugou shouted, his voice echoing in the training area. "You think you can do this on your own, but you're not alone! You have us, and I don't want to lose you!"

For a moment, silence enveloped them. Y/N could see the raw emotion etched on Bakugou's face, and it struck a chord deep within her. "I don't want to lose you either, Bakugou," she admitted softly. "But sometimes it's hard to let people in."

Bakugou stepped closer, the anger in his eyes giving way to something more vulnerable. "Just let me in, okay? I care about you too damn much to stand by and watch you put yourself in danger."

Y/N felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "I'll try. I promise."

The tension between them began to fade, and she could see the corners of Bakugou's mouth twitching up in a faint smile. "Good. Now, get your ass over here and train with me."

Y/N laughed softly, the weight on her shoulders feeling a little lighter. "Alright, but don't go easy on me."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he smirked, his eyes sparkling with determination.

As they began to train together, Y/N felt a sense of belonging wash over her. The worries of the past few days began to fade, replaced by the warmth of connection and understanding. In that moment, she realized that facing her demons wouldn't be easy, but with Bakugou and her friends by her side, she didn't have to face them alone.